Migrating from Another Tool
Moving from Opus, Descript, Riverside, Vizard, or something else? Here’s what transfers and what doesn’t.
What you can migrate
Section titled “What you can migrate”- Source video files (MP4, MOV, M4V, WebM): Up to 4 GB and 2 hours long
- Transcripts: You can’t import them directly. Re-process the source video and Video Tap will generate a fresh one.
- Existing clips: These live in your old tool. You’d re-cut them from the source video once it’s in Video Tap.
What doesn’t come over
Section titled “What doesn’t come over”- Content your old tool generated (blog posts, social posts, etc.): Those were written by their AI. Re-processing the video in Video Tap gets you new versions.
- Audio-only files: Video Tap is video-only right now. If you have podcast audio-only recordings, they’ll need to be in a video container (MP4 or MOV) before uploading.
How to migrate
Section titled “How to migrate”1. Export your videos from the old tool
Section titled “1. Export your videos from the old tool”- Opus / Vizard: download the original file, or re-upload from your local copy
- Descript: File > Export > MP4
- Riverside: download from the project page
- YouTube: download from YouTube Studio and upload the file to Video Tap.
2. Set up folders before you start
Section titled “2. Set up folders before you start”Create folders in Video Tap that match how your old tool was organized (by show, season, topic, whatever). Much easier to do this upfront than untangle it after 100 uploads.
3. Configure your settings first
Section titled “3. Configure your settings first”Before uploading anything, go to Settings and sort out:
- Custom vocabulary (brand names, product names, terms your transcriptions should know)
- Preferred language
- Blog prompt (if you want a specific tone or style)
- Spelling corrections
Every video you upload after this will use these settings automatically.
4. Upload in batches
Section titled “4. Upload in batches”You can drag multiple files in at once. No need to add them one at a time.
5. Spot check before going all in
Section titled “5. Spot check before going all in”Process 5 videos first. Check the transcripts, read a blog post, look at the captions. If something’s off, adjust your settings before you process the rest.
If you’re switching mid-month
Section titled “If you’re switching mid-month”Check your old tool’s billing cycle so you’re not paying for two subscriptions at once. It’s worth keeping the old tool around for a week or two while you make sure everything migrated cleanly, then cancel once you’re confident.
Have a big library?
Section titled “Have a big library?”If you’re moving 100+ videos, email support@videotap.com.